The list of medical tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Herniated disc includes:
The following medical news items are relevant to diagnosis and misdiagnosis issues for Herniated disc:
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about diagnostis of Herniated disc.
Source: In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms, 2007
Obtaining a careful patient history is vital because the events that intensify disk pain are diagnostically significant. The straight-leg–raising test and its variants are perhaps the best tests for herniated disk, but may still be negative.
For the straight-leg–raising test, the patient lies in a supine position while the examiner places one hand on the patient’s ilium, to stabilize the pelvis, and the other hand under the ankle, then slowly raises the patient’s leg. The test is positive only if the patient complains of posterior leg (sciatic) pain, not back pain. In Lasègue test, the patient lies flat while the thigh and knee are flexed to a 90-degree angle. Resistance and pain as well as loss of ankle or knee-jerk reflex indicate spinal root compression.
X-rays of the spine are essential to rule out other abnormalities but may not diagnose herniated disk because marked disk prolapse can be present despite a normal X-ray. A thorough check of the patient’s peripheral vascular status — including posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis pulses and skin temperature of extremities — helps rule out ischemic disease, another cause of leg pain or numbness. After physical examination and X-rays, myelography, computed tomography scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide the most specific diagnostic information, showing spinal canal compression by herniated disk material. MRI is the method of choice to confirm the diagnosis and determine the exact level of herniation. A myelogram can define the size and location of disk herniation. An electromyogram can determine the exact nerve root involved. A nerve conduction velocity test may also be performed.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Obtaining a careful patient history is vital because the mechanisms that intensify disk pain are diagnostically significant. The following test results support the diagnosis:
❑ The straight-leg-raising test and its variants are perhaps the best tests for diagnosing a herniated disk. For this test, the patient lies in a supine position while the examiner places one hand on the patient’s ilium, to stabilize the pelvis, and the other hand under the ankle and then slowly raises the patient’s leg. The test is positive only if the patient complains of posterior leg (sciatic) pain, not back pain.
❑ In Lasegue’s test, the patient lies flat while the thigh and knee are flexed to a 90-degree angle. Resistance and pain as well as loss of ankle or knee-jerk reflex indicate spinal root compression.
❑ X-rays of the spine are essential to rule out other abnormalities but may not diagnose a herniated disk because a marked disk prolapse can be present despite a normal X-ray.
❑ Peripheral vascular status check, including posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis pulses and the skin temperature of extremities, helps rule out ischemic disease, another cause of leg pain or numbness.
❑ Aside from the physical examination and X-rays, myelography, computed tomography scans, and magnetic resonance imaging provide the most specific diagnostic information, showing spinal canal compression by herniated disk material.
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
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